Stalk-cutter.



J. H. GROVE.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 19M.

1,134,451. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

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l- H- GROVE.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED mus, 1914.

1 ,1 34,45 1 a Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

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J. H. GROVE.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATlON FILED MAY 8. 1914.

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JAMES H. GROVE, OF SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA.

STALK-CUTTER.

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Application filed May 8, 1914.

The invention also has for its object to provide a machine of the character stated which is adjustable to stalks of different heights.

These objects are attained by means of a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that the invention may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail showing the means for effecting vertical adjustment of one of the stalk conveyers, and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail showing the means for efiecting vertical adjustment of one of the guard rails.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the main frame of the machine comprises two laterally spaced platforms 10 connected by cross-bars 11 and mounted at the rear on wheels 12 and at the front on a single wheel 13. The cross-bars adjustably connect the platforms so that they may be set different distances apart according to the distance between the rows of stalks to be harvested. To effect this adjustment of the platforms, the cross-bars have series of apertures 14: for the bolts or other fastenings which connect said cross-bars to the platforms. The axle 15 of the wheels 12 is journaled in bearings 16 mounted on the under side of the platforms, said wheels being fast on the axle, so that when the machine is in motion the axle turns and drives the cutting and other mechanism to be presently described. The front cross-bar 11 supports a forwardly extending bracket 17 in which is swiveled the stem 18 of a fork 19 carrying Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915,

Serial No. 837,302.

the wheel 13, which latterserves as a steering wheel. A clevis 20 straddles the bracket 17 and has apertures through which the stem 18 passes. The stem and the clevis are fastened together by a bolt or pin 21 pass ing therethrough, the stem having a series of apertures 22 for the pin so that the stem may be raised or lowered to vary the distance of the platforms 10 from the ground and thus adjust the height of the cutting mechanism. Suitable draft appliances 23 are carried by the clevis.

Each platform 10 carries a cutting mechanism and associate parts, and as they are alike, a description of one suflices for both. As shown in Fig. 1, the platform has a longitudinal slot or passage-way 2 1 along which the stalks to be cut pass, said slot extending rearward from the front end of the platform, and having its forward or entrance end flared to facilitate the entrance of the stalks. Extending obliquely across the rear end of the slot is a horizontal, stationary cutting blade 25, the cutting edge of which faces the forward end of the slot. By reason of the oblique position of the cutter, it will be evident that when the machine is traveling forward the stalks, upon reaching the cutter, are severed with a draw cut.

looperating with the stationary cutter 25 is a rotary cutter 26 in the shape of a disk having a sharp edge, said disk being horizontal and set close to the stationary cutter to overlap the rear portion thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The cutter 26 is mounted on a vertical shaft 27 supported in suitable bearings carried by the platform.

On the drive axle 15 is a bevel gear 28 which is in mesh with a similar gear 29 fast on a vertical shaft 30. A sprocketwheel 31 on the shaft 30, connected by a chain 32 to a sprocket-wheel 33 on the shaft 27 provides a driving connection for the cutter 26.

The forward end of the platform, on the same side of the slot 24: as the shaft 30, supports a vert cal shaft 34 having near the top a sprocket-wheel 35 which is connected by a chain 36 to a sprocket-wheel 37 on the shaft 30. The chain is located some distance above the cutting mechanism and is armed with outstanding fingers 38 which extend over into the plane of the slot and engage the top of the stalks for conveying the same rearward to the cutting mechanism.

of the railing terminates at the correspond- 'ing end of the platform. The shafts are also'held-upby braces rising from the platform. The chain 32 is also armed With outstanding fingers 41 for conveying the cut 7 This chain is located close to the cutters 25 and 26 and the fingers thereof engage the butt ends of'the-stalks. The c'onveyer chain 36 extends irearward'as far as the conveyer' chain 32so that its fingers 38 may engage the top of the stalks afterth'ey are cut. On the side of the slot 24 oppositerrom that side Where thehereinbefor'e described cutting and conveying mechanismislocated,

' are mounted front and rear posts 42, the

samebeing supported on the platform v10 in anysuitable manner and rising therefromto the same heightas theshafts 30 and 34. 5 These posts carry brackets 43 which pro-' ject in the direction ofthe slot and sup-' port top and bottom rails 44 extending throughout the entire length of ,the platform. Theserails siie as, guards to prevent the stalks from slipping a lvayfrom the conveyer'chains 32 and 36. The top rail is adjustable as toheight by shifting its' siipporting brackets 43. upor down on the posts.

42, the latterhavingseries of holes 45 to receive the bolts 46 which secure the brad;

ets to'the posts. 1

The rear ends of the rails 39 and 44 spread so as to leave sufficient space on the rear end of the platform to accommodate the stalks, the latter being carried tothisportion of the platform on which they accumulate. When sufficient stalks have thus accumulated, they are removed. The rear end ofthe platform on which thestalks gather has a gate 47 held closed a latch 48. This gate is kept closed While the stalksare gathering on the platform, and upon swinging the gate open, the stalks may be removed.

I claim: I j

1. A stalk-cutter comprising a Wheel-supported platform having a stalk passageway, front, rear andfinterniediate vertical shafts rising from the platform on one side of the passage-Way, guard rails carried by 'thelplatform on the other side of the passage-way, a cutter carried by the intermerear shaft being'located to the rear of the cutter, an endless chain connecting the ported platform havin'ga stalk 'passa-ge way, 5

front, rear and intermediate verticalshafts rising from the platform on one side" of the 7 passage-Way, guardrails carried by th'e platstalks to therear end of the platform 10.

form on the other side of the passage-Way,

a cutter carried by the intermediate shaft,-

sprocket-'vvhee-ls' adjustably mounted "on the the rear shaftbeinglOGated te the-rear of the cutter, a stalk cenvey'er 'e'hain eonnecting the sprocket-Wheels, sprocket-Wheels on the rear and the'interinediate shafts, a stalk-s coi1veye' ,r chain connectingthe last-mentioned sprocket-Wheels, said spr'ocket wheels being below the" first-:mentioned sprocket- Wheels, and a driving connection for one of the shafts.

s. A Sha en-atecom rising a wh el-su ported platformhaving a stalk passageay, front, rear andintermediatevertical shafts rising from the platform on one side; of the passage-wayga cutter carried by the intermediate shaft posts rising fromthe platform on the other side of therpassage way,

top'and bottom guardrails carried,; by,the posts, the :top 7 guard rail fbeing adjustable vertically, sprockete vvheels carried "by the front and the rearshaftsjatthe topfthereof and adjustable vertically thereonfthe rear shaft being located'to the rear o flthe cutter, a stalk-conveyen chain I connecting the sprocket=tvheels,sprocket vvheels on the rear and the interr'nediate shafts, a stalk-conveyer chain connecting the last-mentioned s read-wheels, said f sprocket wheels being beloW' "the first-mentioned -=sprocket-Wheels,

and; a driving connectionflfor one of "the shafts.- p V r T V v 4. A stalkeuaeredmprising a wheel-supported vplatform having astalk passage-Way,

front, rear and intermediate vertical shafts 'risingxfrom the platform en' one'sideof the assage-wait. a Cutter carried :by the interinedia'te shaft posts rising from the platform'onthe' other side of the passage way, top and bottom. guard rails carriedby' the posts, alguard rail connecting'the'front and rear shafts, said guard rail and the firstmentioned guard rails terminating to .the

rear of the cutter and spreading thereat to .formra stalk Iholdena gate connecting the rear ends; of the -r s eetive' guard rails,

. sproeketwhels on the front and the rear shafts at the top thereof, the rear shaft bestanding conveyer fingers and a driving con- 10 ing located to the rear of the cutter, an endnection for one of the shafts.

less chain connecting the sprocket wheels, In testimony whereof I affix my signature and having outstarilding cong-eyer fingers, in presence of two witnesses.

sprocket-wheels on t e rear an the intermediate shafts, an endless chain connecting JAMES GROVE the last-mentioned sprocket-wheels, said Witnesses:

sprocket-wheels being below the first-men- EARL J. THOMAS,

tioned sprocket-wheels, and having out- EFFIE J. THOMAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

